A & D

In the final minutes of 2023, Nina Rizzo hid under a table with her friend Jake, nearly choking from laughter—and from shoving 12 green grapes down her throat. A social media trend promised that if she ate 12 grapes under a table on New Year’s Eve, she would find love in the next year. Little did Nina know that just over one year later, she would be engaged to someone she hadn’t even met yet. Domenic and Nina’s story begins like most modern love stories—on Hinge. Though they hadn’t officially met by Dec. 31, 2023, they had already begun talking. On Jan. 26, they finally met at Bigalora in Royal Oak for their first date—or rather, first dates. Over pizza and wine, like any good Italian couple, the conversation flowed effortlessly for four hours. They bonded over shared grief, discovering that Nina’s uncle had passed within a week of Domenic’s Nonna. Nina spoke about her rosary, and Domenic realized he hadn’t met anyone who carried one so faithfully since his Nonna. His life hadn’t felt complete since her passing on Sept. 9, 2023. That night, though, as Domenic looked at Nina, he felt she might be the missing piece. Dinner turned into a freezing walk through downtown Royal Oak, stopping at other bars along the way. They talked about family, grief, dreams, their Italian heritage, and the future they hoped to build. At the end of the night, Domenic walked Nina to her car. She drove home wide awake from the giddiness of the night—and from a phone call with her coworkers, who crowded around a phone at the nurse’s station demanding every detail. Though Nina had told her parents about Domenic, she wasn’t ready for them to meet—until Feb. 17, when Domenic showed up at her front door for their third date at Palazzo di Bocce. Nina worried it wouldn’t go well, but when she came downstairs, Domenic and her dad, Sal, were already getting along. A week later, Nina met Domenic’s sister Giuliana and cousin Kimmy. Nervous about family approval, Nina was relieved when the three bonded quickly—especially while teasing Domenic for leaving her alone with them while he cooked dinner. Though both knew where late nights and 3 a.m. phone calls were heading, they didn’t become official until March 15. By November, they were quietly looking at engagement rings. Domenic asked Nina’s parents for their blessing—Angie cried the entire time, though she wasn’t surprised. Nina’s brother Giuseppe was overjoyed to finally be gaining a brother. In January, COVID nearly derailed Domenic’s plan. He had scheduled a “shopping trip” to Frankenmuth on Jan. 25, though the real plan was hidden in his coat pocket. On the drive, he alternated between nonstop talking and silence, playing “Everywhere, Everything” by Noah Kahan on repeat. Nina grew suspicious. In Frankenmuth, Domenic led Nina to a bridge and set up a tripod for a photo. As Nina laughed and urged him to hurry, Domenic stood beside her, kissed both her cheeks, and told her how much he loved her before getting down on one knee. Looking up at Nina, Domenic knew he’d found what he’d spent his life searching for—someone who made his life complete. Through tears and a joyful yes, Nina confirmed the success of her 12 green grapes. She had found a love far greater than she ever wished for.